The more woke of you (stupid expression) may have noticed an additional retirement blog posted on Wednesday. Entitled, simply The Summerhouse Years. It said that it was the first blog ‘what I ever wrote’. How can this be you asked? Or, more likely, you just ignored it or perhaps thought I just made a mistake in my old age.
Well, it was no mistake, it was in fact the first step in what may be a cunning plan, or then again maybe not so cunning. I don’t often re-read past retirement blogs. Not enough time to both write them twice a week and also read back issues. But a few weeks ago for some reason I was doing just that, looking at old blogs in my archives.
And I thought they’re not bad, quite well-written I thought. The words of an old chum came floating back to me. Probably a couple of years ago, he said you can re-post them you know. Nothing illegal in that.
At the time I thought, well maybe not illegal but verging on the immoral. Re-issuing these retirement blogs felt strangely like cheating. And it’s not as if, thus far at least, I’ve struggled for new subjects. True they’re all pretty much within the confines of the existing categories but then they would be if I’ve chosen the categories wisely in the first place. Also true, there are some categories that, over the years, have seen very little action. But that’s inevitable, I think.
So I’m reaching out to you my readers. I know this must be a powerful exhortation because it’s used all the time in my unsolicited junk mail. However it doesn’t have any effect on me and I can practically guarantee that it won’t on you dear reader. How can I be so confident? Answer, because you’ve never responded to any of my similar requests or feedback in the past.
That said I’m going to ask you anyway. My plan cunning, or otherwise, is to re-publish past blogs, starting, as you may have guessed from Wednesday’s offering, with the very first one. I’ll leave out any I don’t fancy or which don’t seem to work in this day and age and I’ll confine myself to the written blogs. Simple question, do you think this is a good idea?
Be warned if I don’t get any responses I shall take this as a, great go ahead, message. I shall assume you are over-whelmed with joy at the thought of easily being able to re-read or maybe read for the first time my past literary gems. And just can’t find the words to say so.
Incidentally, I spoke to my chum again about the idea. He’d forgotten he had had it. Hmm. I think he thought it was basically a good idea but was much exercised with the technicalities / practicalities of the scheme – did these posts need a new section, new headings and / or photos, what will be the criteria for choice, what should be the frequency of posting?
That kind of thing. I on the other hand was more in favour of the f— it let’s just do it, school of thought (or rather lack of it). He was worried about reader overload. Question is – are you? I’m more worried about whether it will improve my SEO ranking. The response to the advent drawings over Christmas suggested it might just. If it doesn’t then maybe I remain in my own world of getting my own pleasure from my writing. Plus a little bit of therapy thrown in. Isn’t that enough?